Observations From a MLK Day March and Luncheon

[saturneptune]

I thought of putting this in the political section, but decided to put it here for this reason. As most know, I work at an adult day care. My job yesterday was to take our folks to a MLK march and luncheon. Basically the march was from a school to the MLK memorial in town. Also, I must say this is the first time in my life I have ever been to an event like this. Anyway, after we arrived at the memorial, there were several speakers. There were some ordained pastors from Baptist and Methodist churches, mostly African-American churches. They talked about MLK and his achievements, speeches and death.

Then came the surprise of the day. One pastor, I believe it was from one of the Baptist churches, asked a rhetorical question, "How would MLK viewed modern day same sex relationships and marriage?" To make a long story short, this pastor came to the conclusion that MLK would have thought it to be acceptable for the sake of unity of the American people. I could not believe my ears. In fact, it ruined the rest of the day for me. I wanted so bad to confront this pastor, but probably not a good idea given that I was on a job.

I grew up in Gulfport, MS in the 50s and 60s, and MLK was not the favorite person to talk about in my house. However, I have read a lot about the man, read his sermons and speeches, some of the incidents he has been through, and feel he was a solid minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He did a lot of good to bring about equality, and over this man, the differences with my Dad and Granddad were never settled.

The point I am trying to make is that I believe the pastor who spoke yesterday misjudged MLK. I believe he would have followed Scripture, and condemned the practice as Baptists do today, as well as other Christians. Race has nothing to do with following Scripture.

So, for those who have read about this man, do you think the pastor was correct about how MLK would have treated same sex marriage? I think he was way off base.

 

[InTheLight]

So, for those who have read about this man, do you think the pastor was correct about how MLK would have treated same sex marriage? I think he was way off base.

Was this pastor saying that MLK would have approved of same-sex marriage if he were alive today? Or was he saying MLK would have approved of it in the 1960's?

 

[saturneptune]

Was this pastor saying that MLK would have approved of same-sex marriage if he were alive today? Or was he saying MLK would have approved of it in the 1960's?

From the speech, I would say the pastor speaking said MLK would of approved of it if he were alive today. At the time in the 60s when he was most active, same sex marriage was not even a concept, and same sex relationships were kept in the background. That was a time when the general public disapproved of the idea, as they should now.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

The pastor's mistake was in looking at MLKJr through the filter of politics, not the filter of faith. Perhaps this view told him that Dr. King would have approved of "civil rights" for gays. I believe if he looked at Dr. King through his sermons and not his political speeches, he would have come to the opposite conclusion. At least he should have.

 

[Yeshua1]

I thought of putting this in the political section, but decided to put it here for this reason. As most know, I work at an adult day care. My job yesterday was to take our folks to a MLK march and luncheon. Basically the march was from a school to the MLK memorial in town. Also, I must say this is the first time in my life I have ever been to an event like this. Anyway, after we arrived at the memorial, there were several speakers. There were some ordained pastors from Baptist and Methodist churches, mostly African-American churches. They talked about MLK and his achievements, speeches and death.

Then came the surprise of the day. One pastor, I believe it was from one of the Baptist churches, asked a rhetorical question, "How would MLK viewed modern day same sex relationships and marriage?" To make a long story short, this pastor came to the conclusion that MLK would have thought it to be acceptable for the sake of unity of the American people. I could not believe my ears. In fact, it ruined the rest of the day for me. I wanted so bad to confront this pastor, but probably not a good idea given that I was on a job.

I grew up in Gulfport, MS in the 50s and 60s, and MLK was not the favorite person to talk about in my house. However, I have read a lot about the man, read his sermons and speeches, some of the incidents he has been through, and feel he was a solid minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He did a lot of good to bring about equality, and over this man, the differences with my Dad and Granddad were never settled.

The point I am trying to make is that I believe the pastor who spoke yesterday misjudged MLK. I believe he would have followed Scripture, and condemned the practice as Baptists do today, as well as other Christians. Race has nothing to do with following Scripture.

So, for those who have read about this man, do you think the pastor was correct about how MLK would have treated same sex marriage? I think he was way off base.

I have heard MLK daughetr speak, and she was dead sure her father would have been against abortion and same sex marriage within Negro Community!

Wouldn't she know best his views?

 

[salzer mtn]

I put MLK in the same category as Al Sharptone and Jessie Jackson. All three are for equality of races first and foremost. I'm not saying I'm against that but they make that their gospel. MLK would have probably ran for president if he had lived, so who knows what he would have stood for.

 

[OldRegular]

I put MLK in the same category as Al Sharptone and Jessie Jackson. All three are for equality of races first and foremost. I'm not saying I'm against that but they make that their gospel. MLK would have probably ran for president if he had lived, so who knows what he would have stood for.

There was a time when I would have put MLK in the same class as the two poverty pimps you mentioned. Over the years I have come to believe that MLK probably prevented a full blown race war in this country. He also did a mountain of good in other respects. It is very sad that the majority of blacks are not taking advantage of the work of Dr. King.

It is my understanding that the majority of black pastors are opposed to homosexual marriage!

 

[saturneptune]

There was a time when I would have put MLK in the same class as the two poverty pimps you mentioned. Over the years I have come to believe that MLK probably prevented a full blown race war in this country. He also did a mountain of good in other respects. It is very sad that the majority of blacks are not taking advantage of the work of Dr. King.

It is my understanding that the majority of black pastors are opposed to homosexual marriage!

Thank you for that insight. I especially admire that because many in your generation hung on to the position that you had when he first hit the national scene. I know my grandparents, and to a degree, my parents did. From how most felt in the mid 60s, your post is a miracle in itself, and very much appreciated.

 

[HungryInherit]

MLK would certainly approve of same sex marriages now and he had no problem with homosexuals then. I've read almost every academic paper Dr. King wrote in seminary. A lot of people have no earthly idea how liberal this man was. He did a TON for civil rights but he didn't not believe in the virgin birth, does not believe there will be a second coming, etc. it's foolish to think that a man as liberal as him in the 40s would condemn homosexuality in 2014. He would march side by side with them.

 

[HAMel]

I wonder if MLK ever considered himself an African (Hyphenated) American? To me, that's a divided individual while calling for unity. An oxymoron?

Personally, if he were alive today I think he'd be outraged with current conditions and I doubt he'd support our current administration.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

There was a time when I would have put MLK in the same class as the two poverty pimps you mentioned. Over the years I have come to believe that MLK probably prevented a full blown race war in this country. He also did a mountain of good in other respects.

I think I am a little younger than you, but this could be my own statement. Thanks

 

[Zaac]

I have heard MLK daughetr speak, and she was dead sure her father would have been against abortion and same sex marriage within Negro Community!

Wouldn't she know best his views?

NEGRO? Man at least call them Black.

And one would think his wife, who speant far more time with him than any of his kids would know him better. And she says:

Coretta Scott King, speaking four days before the 30th anniversary of her husband’s assassination, said Tuesday the civil rights leader’s memory demanded a strong stand for gay and lesbian rights. “I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice,” she said. “But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” “I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people,” she said

. – CSK,Reuters, March 31, 1998.

Speaking before nearly 600 people at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Coretta Scott King, the wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Tuesday called on the civil rights community to join in the struggle against homophobia and anti-gay bias. “Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood,” King stated. “This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.” – Chicago Defender, April 1, 1998, front page.

Quoting a passage from her late husband’s writing, Coretta Scott King reaffirmed her stance on gay and lesbian rights Tuesday at a luncheon celebrating the 25 anniversary of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, a national gay rights organization. “We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny . . . I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be,” she said, quoting her husband. “I’ve always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy,” King told 600 people at the Palmer House Hilton, days before the 30th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968. She said the civil rights movement “thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion.” Her husband’s struggle parallels that of the gay rights movement, she said. – Chicago Sun Times, April 1, 1998, p.18.

We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say “common struggle” because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry and discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination. – Coretta Scott King, remarks, Opening Plenary Session, 13th annual Creating Change conference of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Atlanta, Georgia, November 9, 2000.

I'd say that his wife definitely knew him better than his daughter Bernice who was only five when her dad died.

Look at the stance of the other Civil Rights guys who marched with him. Joseph Lowery, John Lewis, etc. They are staunchly in support of gay marriage for the same reasons they were against Jim Crow Laws.

 

[Van]

One of the ploys of activists with an agenda is to claim their view was shared with grand historical figures. How many times have we read where Calvinism, or some other bogus view can trace its roots back to the Apostles.

Here we have the Gay Rights movement, seeking special and protected status in the eyes of Government invoking MLK.

First, as all of you should know, there are no "homosexuals" with a distinctive gene makeup, only humans who engage in homosexual activity which is sinful.

Would MLK have seen Gay Rights through the lens of civil rights, or through the lens of advocating sinful activity? I do not know, but in a letter he spoke of homosexual tendencies as "a problem."

The Gay rights movement tries to piggy-back on the civil rights movement (we are born this way so Gay rights is no different from women's rights, or the special rights of people of color.) But it is a hoax folks. We are all predisposed to sin, but that does it make it any less of a sin.

 

[HAMel]

...that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” “I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people,” she said

This would indicate to me that MLK, while with good intentions..., misses the boat when it comes to moral values. I mean, he was billed as a Christian Minister, no?

 

[Zaac]

...that Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” “I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people,” she said

This would indicate to me that MLK, while with good intentions..., misses the boat when it comes to moral values. I mean, he was billed as a Christian Minister, no?

From my experience, the same applies for a LOT of Christians. I do think his wife correctly expresses what his views would have been though as she is aligned with the other Civil Rights greats.

I think what you see from Christian Civil Rights leaders on the issue of same sex "marriage" and same sex relationships is akin to what you saw from the Evangelical Church and Mitt Romney.

The Christian Civil Rights Leaders believe that giving everyone the same rights even to the point of going against what God says is the correct thing to do.

Likewise, many in the Evangelical Church believed that removing Barack Obama at any cost and replacing him with a man who seemed to agree with their morality while rejecting Jesus Christ was the right thing to do even to the point of going against what God says is the right thing to do.

In both instances, the Christian Civil Rights leaders and the Evangelical Church have chosen to place their own desires and stance on issues and their politics before their obedience to Christ.

The Civil Rights leaders will say their stance is correct.
And the Evangelical Church will say that it's stance on Mitt Romney was correct.

I submit that they are BOTH incorrect.

Yes there are indeed lots of similarities between what Blacks endured for their Civil Rights and this cause that homosexuals have now taken up. But it 100% goes against God for any Christian to support the joining of two people of the same sex to be part of HIS ordained covenant of marriage.

Likewise it 100% went against God for Christians and the Evangelical Church to throw our support behind a man who is 100% against Jesus Christ.

 

[Zaac]

One of the ploys of activists with an agenda is to claim their view was shared with grand historical figures. How many times have we read where Calvinism, or some other bogus view can trace its roots back to the Apostles.

Here we have the Gay Rights movement, seeking special and protected status in the eyes of Government invoking MLK.

First, as all of you should know, there are no "homosexuals" with a distinctive gene makeup, only humans who engage in homosexual activity which is sinful.

Would MLK have seen Gay Rights through the lens of civil rights, or through the lens of advocating sinful activity? I do not know, but in a letter he spoke of homosexual tendencies as "a problem."

The Gay rights movement tries to piggy-back on the civil rights movement (we are born this way so Gay rights is no different from women's rights, or the special rights of people of color.) But it is a hoax folks. We are all predisposed to sin, but that does it make it any less of a sin.

I again think his wife and the guys who actually marched beside him are a direct, much better approximation of where he probably would stand. He did after all start off as a Republican which I certainly, like the majority of the other Civil Rights era leaders and his wife and kids, don't think he would be a member of the GOP today.

 

[pinoybaptist]

I put MLK in the same category as Al Sharptone and Jessie Jackson. All three are for equality of races first and foremost. I'm not saying I'm against that but they make that their gospel. MLK would have probably ran for president if he had lived, so who knows what he would have stood for.

From what I have read of MLK, it will be an insult to put him on the same level as the two "reverends", IF he remains true to his ideals and his ministry had he not been assasinated.

 

[Zaac]

From what I have read of MLK, it will be an insult to put him on the same level as the two "reverends", IF he remains true to his ideals and his ministry had he not been assasinated.

MLK Jr was no saint. But I too don't think it's fair, based upon the history we have of him, to lump him in with the unscrupulous, opportunistic disgusting excuse for Reverends that are Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.

I do however believe he would be lock, stock and barrel in line with where they are on same sex relationships and same sex "marriage".

 

[Zaac]

I put MLK in the same category as Al Sharptone and Jessie Jackson. All three are for equality of races first and foremost. I'm not saying I'm against that but they make that their gospel.

Can not the same be said about the Evangelical Church and Christians during the last election cycle? We were for "morality" , winning and our politics first. We made that OUR Gospel. So where do we non-hypocritically have the right to cast aspersions upon them for doing the same thing that we did?

 

[saturneptune]

MLK would certainly approve of same sex marriages now and he had no problem with homosexuals then. I've read almost every academic paper Dr. King wrote in seminary. A lot of people have no earthly idea how liberal this man was. He did a TON for civil rights but he didn't not believe in the virgin birth, does not believe there will be a second coming, etc. it's foolish to think that a man as liberal as him in the 40s would condemn homosexuality in 2014. He would march side by side with them.

In the 40s MLK was probably being a teenager. Of course, I respectfully disagree with your conclusion based on reading his papers and sermons. However, the main point is, which is sad, is that this present day pastor thought gay marriage to be acceptable.